Fast Fact Friday #2

I know it's not Friday, but I wasn't able to post then so I'm doing it now.  :)

Here are the questions for this week:
1. Where is your favorite vacation place?
If I could live in the mountains I would.  Trees and streams and birds just give rest to my soul.  There's a beautiful campground just 12 miles from my house and I love to go there.

My niece, KayLee, at Malad Summit Campground.

2. How long do you like to go on vacation?
I think a week or two is the perfect amount of time.  It's long enough to really get away from it all and it makes coming home so nice.
3. Where did you go on your favorite vacation?
When I graduated from college I went on a trip to Europe with my two best friends, Shalyce and Liesl.  It was such a fun trip and I learned tons!  We went to Ireland first, then Wales, had a short stop in Shrewsbury, and then we had a two week stop in London.  Next we went to Paris and our final stop was Sweden.  I loved how friendly the people were in Ireland and how green everything was.  In Wales the scenery was just breathtaking.  Shrewsbury had a great small town atmosphere and we got to tour a castle there.  I also discovered Cadfael, a crime solving priest.  I have since come to love the movies based in this town.  In London I got to see the Tower of London and lots of musicals.  In Paris we went to the Paris Opera House to see the ballet, Giselle.  We completely dressed up in formals and everything.  We were a little disappointed to find that we were the only ones dressed up, but it was still an amazing experience.  In Sweden we stayed with Liesl's sister's mother-in-law.  She was so hospitable and it was a neat experience to interact with people who live there.  We discovered a small meadow behind her house and had so much fun there.  I am so grateful for all that she did for us, including taking us to Kungelf (I think that's how you spell it) Castle.

Liesl, Shalyce, and I in Sweden.

Shalyce and I at Shrewsbury Abbey.

Shalyce and I at Kungelf Castle.

Me in Paris.

Me at St. Patrick's Cathedral in Ireland.

Westminster Abbey in London.  Some of my ancestors are buried here!

4. Where was your most recent vacation?
My last vacation was to Malad Summit campground, one of my very favorite places.  I was there with my nieces, nephews, and my brother, which made it even better!  We had tons of fun having a tea party up there.  Read more about it here.
5. If money were no object, where would you like to go?
I still have lots of places I would like to go.  I have always wanted to go to Israel so that would be my first choice.  I would also love to go visit friends I have in South Africa.  They said they would take me to a park there to see the wild animals.  I would sure love to see a giraffe!  I also want to go to Scotland and see where my Miller ancestors came from.  I also think it would be really fun to take a tour of the United States and visit some of the places my family is from like Missouri (where my grandpa Aldridge grew up), Pond Creek, Oklahoma (Isn't that a fun name?  It makes me think of Little House on the Prairie.  That's where my grandma Barnes was born.), Kansas (my mom was born there), Star Valley, Wyoming (where my great-grandpa Harrison grew up), Kirtland, Ohio (where my ancestor, Rosel Hyde was converted to the LDS Church), and Nauvoo, Illinois (where several of my ancestors lived).  I better get busy!! :)